Digital Commons Network^™

Living In Care: Older Persons Experiences Of Nursing Homes, Cathy Galvin, Aine De Roiste

Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies

A sample of 40 older persons, (30 female; 10 male) half of whom resided in public and half of whom resided in private nursing homes across Cork city and county participated in the study. Participants were interviewed about their experience of entering and living in nursing home care. The qualitative data yielded from the interviews identified that the majority of the sample entered into care due to poor physical or mental health. The features of residential care reported that were liked were an enhanced sense of security, the company of others and being looked after. The features of residential care …

An Exploration Of The Internationalisation Process Of Irish Indigenous Software Smes, Kathy Keeney

Masters

From meagre beginnings in the 1970s, the Irish software industry has emerged as one of the most interesting, exciting and successful Irish internationally traded service industries. Some thirty years later, the industry is still characterised by high levels of international trade activity, through niche market orientation and innovative and flexible management. Through an exploration of the internationalisation process in the context of Irish indigenous software firms, this thesis seeks to understand how this process of international expansion occurs, the barriers encountered throughout the process, future challenges for the industry and the use of strategic partnership activities as a facilitator in …

Queering The Writing Center, Harry Denny

The Writing Center Journal

No abstract provided.

An Examination Of Ethical Issues Pertaining To Educational Research, Greg Gallagher

Level 3

The social sciences in general and educational researchers in particular have become more and more conscious of ethical propriety and the need for universally acceptable codes of ethical conduct in recent years. This newfound interest stems in part from criticisms of innovative contemporary research methodologies, and the fear that they may be at odds with certain fundamental ethical principles. This, in turn, has resulted in the integrity and validity of some of these new contemporary styles of research being held up to scrutiny and debated by adherents to the more conventional research methodologies.

This paper begins by tracing back to …

Developing A Participatory Consultation Process For Quality Reviews: The Initial Stage Of The European University Associations Quality Review Of The Dublin Institute Of Technology, Aidan Kenny

Level 3

This paper describes the evolution of a consultation process utilized by the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) as part of a quality review process. An emphasis is placed on outlining: the collaborative nature of the enquiry; the guidelines and code of ethics adopted; the social research methodology utilized both quantitative (online surveys, staff n=1831, student’s n=21094) and qualitative (6 staff focus groups n=45 and 4 stakeholder focus groups n=24 and faculty board submissions 6). Instrument construction, theme sheet design and sampling procedures and response rate are detailed. The author, as consultation facilitator, provides an narrative of events and applies theory …

Strategic Writing: Moving Beyond The Classroom Assignment, Deborah Dean

Faculty Publications

By focusing on specific strategies that they could apply to different stages of the writing process, Deborah Dean helped students acquire control over their writing in varying contexts.

I would never think of teaching a reading strategy that worked for only one text. And students do not consider predicting or summarizing to be strategies unique to a specific text, either. Why, then, do students so often look at writing strategies as practices useful for only one assignment? Why do they complete freewrites or webs after they have finished the paper? Or "mess up" a copy of a paper just to …

Information Delivery On Mobile Devices Using Contour Icon Sonification, Charlie Cullen, Eugene Coyle

Conference papers

This paper examines the use of musical patterns to convey information, specifically in the context of mobile devices. Existing mechanisms (such as the popularity of the Morse code SMS alert) suggest that the use of musical patterns on mobile devices can be a very efficient and powerful method of data delivery. Unique musical patterns based on templates known as Contour Icons are used to represent specific data variables, with the output rendering of these patterns being referred to as a Sonification of that data. Contour Icon patterns mimic basic shapes and structures, thus providing listeners with a means of categorising …

The War On Terror And Iraq In Historical Perspective, Antony Anghie

Osgoode Hall Law Journal

This article critically examines the doctrine of pre-emption articulated in the National Security Strategy and the arguments made in favour of the proposition that it represents an emerging norm of international law and is compatible with the UN Charter. It focuses in particular on the possible implications with the UN Charter. It focuses in particular on the possible implications of this doctrine for Third-World states. It also examines the war in Iraq and pre-emption may be seen as replicating, in certain respects, a much earlier colonial history.

Maintaining The Identity Of Dynamically Embodied Agents, Alan Martin, Gregory O'Hare, Brian Duffy, Bianca Schoen-Phelan, John Bradley

Conference papers

Virtual agents are traditionally constrained in their embod- iment, as they are restricted to one form of body. We propose allowing them to change their embodiment in order to expand their capabili- ties. This presents users with a number of di±culties in maintaining the identity of the agents, but these can be overcome by using identity cues, certain features that remain constant across embodiment forms. This pa- per outlines an experiment that examines these identity cues, and shows that they can be used to help address this identity problem.

Effects Of A Skilled Videotape Model With Or Without Attention-Focusing Cues On The Performance Of A Basketball Foul Shot, Steven Edward Beard

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a skilled videotape model with or without attention-focusing cues on the performance of a non-dominant hand basketball foul shot. It was hypothesized that attention-focusing cues of a skilled videotape model would have no significant effect on the non-dominant hand basketball foul shot performance of adolescents. Thirty participants (22 male, 8 female) were randomly assigned and stratified by gender into one of two groups: skilled videotape model with cues and skilled videotape model without cues. Each participant completed 22 blocks of 50 trials each, with the first and last block …

Using Office Referral Data To Help Understand School-Wide Discipline, Sarah Remakel-Henkels

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Some schools looking to create and maintain a safe and supportive learning environment implement Positive Behavior Supports (PBS). Maintaining a safe and supportive school requires a solid sense of the current school climate and a continuous improvement process for measuring progress and making appropriate corrections. Schools need to be keeping track of whether a safe, supportive learning community is being provided to all students all of the time through key indicator data.

Due to the increased amount of accountability being placed upon schools and states through NCLB, there is also an increased amount of academic data collection required. One school …

The Developmental Process Of Reflection In Youth Ministry, Laura Bowers

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The research of applied developmental practice of reflection is inconsistent and its theoretical framework changes depending on the disciplinary perspective. The variability is illustrative of reflection's complexity and its inconsistency as an ideal. This research attempts not only to define reflection within the context of the Prairie Lakes youth ministry program but also to highlight specific programmatic elements that are involved in the process. Through text analysis by the Minnesota Contextual and Content Analysis program and the theoretical guidance of Kohlberg, Mayer and Dewey insight into an applied reflective practice is formed.

A Descriptive Study Of The Frequency And Intensity Of Physical Activity Among Incoming First-Year Students At Luther College, Kristi Leonard

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Young adults are not as active as they should be in comparison to national standards. They are more overweight than is healthy. The purpose of this study was to describe the physical activity volume (frequency + intensity) of incoming first-year students at an Iowa liberal arts college. Did certain demographic characteristics, such as gender; projected major area of study; age; native language; religious preference; ethnic background; and past high school and projected college athletic, theater/drama, and music participation of these students make a difference in their volume of physical activity? This study focused on the examination of exercise behaviors of …

The Relationship Between Time Spent In Physical Activity During Daily Physical Education And Selected Physical Fitness Components Among Elementary And Secondary Students, Shelley Mccumber

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a correlation between the time spent in physical activity in the physical education classroom and the scores on the Fitness gram battery tests of the mile walk/run, sit-ups, flexed arm hang, trunk lift, and the sit and reach in elementary and secondary students. Two sub-problems were also investigated: (1) were there differences in the total amount of time spent in physical activity between elementary students and secondary students; and (2) were there differences in the percent of total class time spent in physical activity between elementary students and secondary …

Russian Immigration To The Usa, 1990-2003, Alexandra Mikhailovna Bozheva

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The last decade of the 20th century was marked by an important event on the European political map, the USSR's disintegration and the formation of new states. The collapse of the Soviet Union and consequent changes in the economic and social lives of its former population caused an increase in migration between former republics, and migration flow abroad. Regarding the Russian Federation, international emigration from its territory was directed mostly toward three countries: Germany, Israel and the USA. The period 1990-1991 can be called the starting point of a new wave of Russian emigration, and this is true in relation …

Food Preferences Between Diverse Ethnic Groups In A College Population, Enrique Gallegos Covarrubias

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Obesity and its psychosocial and medical consequences are costing the United States billions of dollars per year. Many factors such as lack of physical activity, changing lifestyles, and unhealthy eating behaviors contribute to the increasing prevalence of obesity. In the present study, food preferences among college-aged students were measured from two different geographical locations (Texas and Iowa). Gender (men vs. women), ethnicity (Hispanic vs. Caucasian), and Body Mass Index scores (normal vs. overweight) were utilized as dependent variables to measure food preferences. Participants were required to rate four menus, which included important nutritional information. Ratings were obtained to measure how …

Parental Marital Status Relationship With Adult Children’S Marital Status, Susan Barbara Frommelt Czerniak

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this quantitative study is to examine the question does parental divorce during childhood influences the marital status of the child in adulthood? The data used in the present study come from a random representative national sample and was originally collected by Bumpass and Sweet (1988) for national use. The total sample size for the present study is 5027. It is hypothesized for this study that parental divorce will influence a child's martial status in adulthood. It is also expected that gender, race, and cohabitational history will interact with parental marital status and influence the marital status of …

Perceptions Of Luck And Gambling Patterns, Dustin Daugherty

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Current research examining situations that elicit gambling behaviors have tended to focus on many structural features such as the "near miss" phenomenon. This is the idea that individuals will play longer on a slot machine that almost lands on a jackpot symbol than one that does not. Until now this research has focused mainly on a near "win" situation and ignored what will be called a near "loss" situation. Previous findings indicate that by experiencing a near loss, a participant will perceive that he/she has more personal good luck than those individuals who experience a near win. The study presented …

The Spring Break Effect: The Relationship Between Individual Self-Objectification And Physical Fitness Behavior, Brett Dobesh

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Research findings focusing on the theoretical foundation for self-objectification suggests that women are more likely to have high levels of objectification for a variety of reasons. To extend this body of research the purpose of this investigation is two-fold: (1) to assess the influence that spring break attendance may have on levels of self-objectification for fraternity and sorority members, and (2) to observe the connections between SO levels and increased levels of physical fitness. This study consisted of (n = 153) college students actively involved in the Greek System at two Mid-west universities. The students were asked to complete three …

Emotional Intelligence As A Protective Factor For Risk Behavior In Adolescence, Nicole Renee Skaar

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Emotional intelligence is a concept developed by Salovey and Mayer in 1990. Since the first published work on emotional intelligence, others have modified the original idea by adding personality-like traits to the model of emotional intelligence. Consequently, there is a split in the conceptualization of emotional intelligence and the measurement of emotional intelligence; ability model assessment and mixed or trait model self-report assessment. The ability model of emotional intelligence has stood up to tests of discriminant validity over personality traits, unlike the mixed model of emotional intelligence. It is also distinguishable from cognitive intelligence, yet correlates moderately and therefore is …

Multi-Agency Inclusive Recreation Service Delivery Model: An Assessment Of Services, Angela Rae Glanz

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perception of recreation agency staff involved in a multi-agency inclusive recreation program serving individuals with disabilities in the Cedar Valley region. This study focused on analyzing the agency staff perceptions of 20 service quality attributes offered by the Together We Play program. Importance-performance analysis, an evaluation tool, was used to determine the effectiveness or satisfaction of the inclusion services being offered. Participants in the study (N=43) completed the survey instrument containing four sections: (a) perceived importance of20 service quality attributes, (b) perceived effectiveness of 20 service quality attributes, ( c) agencies …

Cameras In Court: A Utilitarian Ethical Approach, Kylie L. Greene

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Cameras in Court: A Utilitarian Ethical Approach is a theoretical discussion that establishes ethical guidelines for journalists and judges concerning cameras in court. Using utilitarian and deontological ethics the research will show that the current professional codes for journalists and judges are not sufficient and that a more utilitarian approach is necessary. Although still cameras were allowed in courtrooms in the early 1900s, it was the 1995 trial of football star O.J. Simpson that many say forever changed the way journalists, judges, and the public viewed cameras in court. Today, many judges are restricting camera access in high-profile cases, while …

Examining The Role Of Empathy Training In Anger Management Programs For Young Children, Amy L. Zirkelbach

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of empathy in anger management programs for young children. Given the growing body of research demonstrating the effectiveness of early intervention, efforts are being made to adapt anger management programs to younger populations. As researchers tackle this challenge, careful attention must be given to the unique developmental needs of this age group. Because many anger management programs involve an empathy training component, it is important to determine whether younger populations can benefit from this training. If children are not able to demonstrate these skills at this age, programs and curriculums …

The Use Of Direct Observation In Functional Behavior Assessment, Lori O'Rourke

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The present study is an investigation into the use of observational strategies as they apply to functional behavior assessment. In addition to highlighting the key observational methods, practical issues that affect the development of an observational instrument are discussed. Furthermore, the factors that influence the reliability and validity of an observation session are discussed. Suggestions are provided for practitioners who are observing the instructional, social, and physical factors that may influence a student's behavior within the classroom. Finally, this study will demonstrate how assessment knowledge, which is gained through direct observation, can be tied to effective classroom interventions.

We're Not "Free-Loading Jocks" : The Presentation Of The Self In The Everyday Lives Of The Collegiate Level Student Athlete, Katie Leanne Sorrell

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Student-athletes live complex lives because they are expected to maintain a number of master statuses. According to Goffman (1959), individuals perform in frontstage. However, other scholars, building from Goffman, state that this is more complex than this. The backstage also has performance elements in it. These regions for student-athletes can become complicated because they have to manage their impressions depending on their social situation. I conducted 18 in-depth, semi-structured interviews to explore the presentation of self in the everyday lives of collegiate level student athletes. Myths abound surrounding college athletes, such that athletes are surrounded with limitless opportunities, or that …

Correlates Of Health Promotion: Meaning In Life, Religiosity, And Christian Identification, Daniel Melvin Huber

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The relationships among meaning in life, religious orientation, Christian identity, health locus of control, and health promotion behaviors were assessed using 206 Christian students from a public university. Six areas of health promotion (physical activity, interpersonal relations, nutrition, health responsibility, spiritual growth, and stress management) were measured using the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II. Predictions included (1) intrinsic religiosity, meaning in life, Christian identity, internal health locus of control, and God control will be positively associated with health promoting behaviors; and (2) intrinsic religiosity and internal health locus of control will be positive predictors of health promoting behaviors. Meaning in life …

Media Reality Versus Lived Reality: The Application Of Cultivation Theory To A Film Audience’S Perceptions Of Romantic Relationships, Nicholas Jensen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Cultivation theory was only applied to the realm of media violence in previous academic studies, thus research needs to address the impact of this particular phenomena on a different sub-genre within society. Hence, romantic relationships and the application of intra-psychic or cultural scripting from Hollywood film, to peoples' interpersonal relationships in their lived realities. This research sets out to answer various questions relating to the broad topic of film audiences' perceptions of romantic relationships and as to whether they apply or act out what they have seen on the silver screen. This research aims to investigate such phenomena as: Do …

Child Sexual Abuse In Sub-Saharan Africa: Child Protection Implications For Development Policy Makers And Practitioners, Kevin Lalor

Reports

No abstract provided.

Comparing Rasch Analyses Probability Estimates To Sensitivity, Specificity And Likelihood Ratios When Examining The Utility Of Medical Diagnostic Tests, Daniel Cipriani, Christine Fox, Sadik Khuder, Nancy Boudreau

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction: Medical diagnostic tests are evaluated based on measures of sensitivity (Sn), specificity (Sp), and likelihood ratios (LR). These procedures are limited in the event of a biased gold standard or missing data. Interpretations of these measures are frequently inappropriate. Purpose: The Rasch Measurement Model (RMM) was examined as a method to provide evidence of diagnostic test utility in order to overcome the limitations of Sn, Sp, and LR. Methods: Patients suspected of a knee ligament tear (n = 825) were studied, by evaluating four diagnostic tests. The RMM probability estimates for each test were compared to estimates of Sn, …

A Context-Dependent Model Of Proximity In Physically Situated Environments, John D. Kelleher, Geert-Jan M. Kruijff

Conference papers

The paper presents a computational model for a context-dependent analysis of a physical environment in terms of spatial proximity. The model provides a basis for grounding linguistic analyses of spatial expressions in visual perception. The model uses potential fields to model spatial proximity. It has been implemented, and when combined with a handcrafted grammar, is used to enable a conversational robot to carry out a situated dialogue with a human. The key concept in our approach is defining the region that is proximal to a landmark based on the spatial configuration of other objects in the scene. The model extends …